Last year, RMK earned a profit of EUR 31.9 million 25.01

Based on preliminary
information, the State Forest Management Centre (RMK) earned EUR 31.9 million
in profit in 2011, which is 20% more than the year before. Compared to 2010,
RMK’s turnover increased by 21% to EUR 143.7 million.

According to the chairman of RMK’s management board,
Aigar Kallas, the growth in turnoverand
profit is a result of the record sale of timber and the higher than average
sales price compared to the previous year. “In the first half of the year the
situation on the timber market was very good, but prices started to drop in the
third quarter,” said Aigar Kallas and added that RMK also intends to sell the
same quantity of timber this year.

In 2011, RMK sold 2.68 million cubic metres of felled
timber at the average price of EUR 45.5 per cubic metre and 0.32 million cubic
metres of wood chips at the average price of EUR 36.6 per cubic metre. During
the year, the sales volume of felled timber increased by 4% and the price of
felled timber and chipped wood went up on average by 12% and 5%, respectively. In
comparison, in 2010 RMK sold 2.57 million cubic metres of felled timber at the
average price of EUR 40.7 per cubic metre. In 2010, RMK sold 0.26 million cubic
metres of chipped wood at the average price of EUR 35.1 per cubic metre.

In 2011, RMK produced a total of 9.4 million forestry
plants. In addition, AS Eesti Metsataim, 60% of which is owned by RMK, grew 3.9
million plants. Most of the produced plants were used to regenerate cutting
areas of state forests.

In 2011, RMK performed reforestation works – planting,
sowing and helping natural regeneration – on a total of 5190 hectares. In
addition, cleaning of young growth was performed on 15 624 hectares and
improvement cutting of middle-aged forests was performed on 13 602 hectares. Regeneration
cutting was performed on almost 8340 hectares.

Over the year, the Estonian people used the activity
possibilities of recreational areas and protected areas managed by RMK a total
of 1.55 million times. In 18 nature centres, RMK carried out 2170 programs
promoting nature awareness and nature preservation, with over 43 000
participants. The programs were complemented by contests, study days, music and
hiking events promoting environmental awareness, organised in the framework of
the international forest year. Over 40 000 people participated in them.

RMK is a profit-making state agency established under
the Forestry Act, aimed at sustainable and efficient management of the state
forest. RMK grows reforestation materials, organises forestry works, is engaged
in the sale of forest and timber, and organises game upkeep. In addition, RMK
creates opportunities for hiking in nature and forest recreation on
recreational areas, in Estonia’s five national parks, and shapes awareness of
nature. RMK manages 38% of Estonia’s forests.